Virtual representations of physical agents

Abstract

A robotic system is integrated with one or more mobile computing devices. Physical configurations of individual components of the system in physical space, or agents, under control of a user or users, are duplicated in a representation in virtual space. Some degree of real-time parity is maintained between the physical and virtual spaces, so as to implement a virtual environment that mirrors the physical one. Events occurring within one environment can directly influence and bear consequence on the course of events occurring within the other environment. Elements of virtual space thereby become truly interdependent and unified on a peer footing with elements in physical space. In at least one embodiment, the system is implemented as an application in entertainment, such as the manifestation of a video game in physical space.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A system comprising:
 a plurality of physical agents, the physical agents being configured for interaction with one another, each physical agent configured to:
 receive signals; 
 perform actions in a physical environment in response to the received signals; and 
 transmit signals indicative of the physical agent's state in the physical environment; 
 
 at least one controller, configured to receive user input for controlling at least one of the physical agents, and further configured to transmit signals for controlling at least one of the physical agents; and 
 a host device, configured to:
 receive signals indicative of the physical state of the physical agents; 
 transmit signals specifying actions to be taken by the physical agents; 
 store virtual representations of the physical agents, the virtual representations of the physical agents being configured for interaction with one another; and 
 maintain substantial parity between the physical states of the physical agents and the states of the corresponding stored virtual representations of the physical agents; 
 
 wherein maintaining substantial parity between the physical states of the physical agents and the states of the corresponding stored virtual representations of the physical agents comprises: 
 determining whether there is disparity between the physical states of the physical agents and the states of the corresponding stored virtual representations of the physical agents; and 
 responsive to a disparity, automatically reducing the disparity by performing at least one selected from the group consisting of:
 transmitting a signal to at least one physical agent to change the physical state of the at least one physical agent to reduce the disparity; and 
 modifying at least one stored virtual representation of a physical agent to reduce the disparity. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 modifying at least one stored virtual representation of a physical agent to reduce the disparity comprises:
 adjusting the states of the stored virtual representations based on received signals indicative of the physical states of the physical agents; and 
 adjusting the states of the stored virtual representations based on interactions among the virtual representations; and 
 
 transmitting a signal to at least one physical agent to change the physical state of the at least one physical agent to reduce the disparity comprises transmitting signals to cause the physical agents to change their physical states to comport with the states of the stored virtual representations. 
 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 2 , wherein, for two physical agents having similar physical characteristics, the virtual representations of the two physical agents have at least one characteristic that differs substantially from one another;
 and wherein the interaction between the virtual representations of the physical agents reflects the substantial difference in the at least one characteristic. 
 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 2 , wherein, for two physical agents having similar mass, the virtual representations of the two physical agents have mass that differs substantially from one another;
 and wherein the interaction between the virtual representations of the physical agents reflects the substantial difference in mass. 
 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 1 , wherein automatically reducing the disparity comprises:
 adjusting the states of the stored virtual representations based on interactions among the virtual representations; and 
 transmitting signals to cause the physical agents to change their physical states to comport with the states of the stored virtual representations. 
 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 5 , wherein, for two physical agents having similar physical characteristics, the virtual representations of the two physical agents have at least one characteristic that differs substantially from one another;
 and wherein the interaction between the virtual representations of the physical agents reflects the substantial difference in the at least one characteristic. 
 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 1 , wherein automatically reducing the disparity comprises:
 adjusting the states of the stored virtual representations based on received signals indicative of the physical states of the physical agents. 
 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the physical agents comprise mobile agents, wherein each mobile agent comprises:
 a propulsion mechanism, adapted to impart motive force to the mobile agent; 
 a sensor, configured to detect a position of the mobile agent; 
 a mobile wireless transceiver, and 
 a microcontroller operatively coupled to the propulsion mechanism, the sensor, and the mobile wireless transceiver, the microcontroller configured to control movement of the mobile agent. 
 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a drivable surface having a plurality of machine-readable codes indicating locations on the surface; 
 wherein the mobile agents comprise vehicles configured to travel along the drivable surface, and wherein the sensor of each mobile agent detecting a position of the mobile agent comprises the sensor detecting the machine-readable codes as the vehicle travels along the surface. 
 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the host device comprises a wireless transceiver, and wherein:
 the host device receiving signals comprises the wireless transceiver receiving signals; and 
 the host device transmitting signals comprises the wireless transceiver transmitting signals. 
 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 1 , wherein each controller comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of:
 a mobile computing device; 
 a smartphone; 
 a tablet computer; 
 a desktop computer; 
 a laptop computer; 
 a video game console; and 
 a kiosk; 
 and wherein the host device comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of: 
 a mobile computing device; 
 a smartphone; 
 a tablet computer; 
 a desktop computer; 
 a laptop computer; 
 a video game console; and 
 a kiosk. 
 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an accessory, positionable within the physical environment; 
 wherein the host device stores a virtual representation of the accessory, and wherein the accessory configured to affect a state of the virtual representations of the physical agents; 
 and wherein, responsive to an interaction between the virtual representation of a physical agent and the virtual representation of the accessory, the host device transmits a signal to cause the physical agent to change its physical state to reflect the result of the interaction. 
 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 12 , wherein at least one controller is configured to receive user input for controlling the accessory agent, and further configured to transmit signals for controlling the accessory agent;
 and wherein the host device adjusts the state of the stored virtual representation of the accessory agent responsive to receiving a signal for controlling the accessory agent. 
 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 13 , wherein the accessory agent comprises a weapon, and wherein the virtual representation of the accessory agent is configured for firing upon a virtual representation of a physical agent. 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a mobile computing device, positionable within the physical environment and configured to display a dynamic representation of an accessory agent; 
 wherein the host device stores a virtual representation of the accessory agent, and wherein the virtual representation of the accessory agent is configured for interaction with virtual representations of the physical agents; 
 and wherein, responsive to an interaction between the virtual representation of the accessory agent and the virtual representation of a physical agent, the host device transmits a signal to cause the physical agent to change its physical state to reflect the result of the interaction. 
 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the virtual representation of at least one physical agent comprises a weapon, and wherein the virtual representation of the physical agent is configured to fire upon a virtual representation of another physical agent;
 and wherein, responsive to a virtual representation of an agent being fired upon: 
 the host device causes the virtual representation to react as though fired upon; and 
 the host device transmits a signal to cause the corresponding physical agent to change its physical state to react as though fired upon. 
 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least two controllers are configured to control a common physical agent. 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an automated computing system, configured to control at least one of the physical agents in an automated manner; 
 wherein at least one of the physical agents is configured to receive signals from the automated computing system and to perform actions in the physical environment in response to the received signals, the physical agent being configured for interaction with at least one physical agent not controlled by the automated computing system. 
 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one controller transmitting signals for controlling at least one of the physical agents comprises the at least one controller transmitting signals over the Internet. 
     
     
       20. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one display device, configured to receive signals from the host device indicating the state of the virtual representations of the physical agents, and further configured to display a dynamic representation of the physical agents based on the received signals. 
 
     
     
       21. The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 determining whether there is disparity comprises receiving a signal from a physical agent indicating a position; and 
 automatically reducing the disparity comprises adjusting a position of a stored virtual representation of the physical agent to comport with the indicated position of the physical agent. 
 
     
     
       22. A method for using mobile computing devices to control physical agents within a robotic system, the physical agents being configured for interaction with one another, the method comprising, at a host device, performing the steps of:
 receiving signals indicative of the physical state of the physical agents in a physical environment; 
 transmitting signals specifying physical actions to be taken by the physical agents in the physical environment; 
 storing virtual representations of the physical agents, the virtual representations of the physical agents being configured for interaction with one another; and 
 maintaining substantial parity between the physical states of the physical agents and the states of the corresponding stored virtual representations of the physical agents; 
 wherein the physical agents are further configured to perform physical actions in response to signals received from mobile computing devices acting as user-operated controllers; 
 and wherein maintaining substantial parity between the physical states of the physical agents and the states of the corresponding stored virtual representations of the physical agents comprises: 
 determining whether there is disparity between the physical states of the physical agents and the states of the corresponding stored virtual representations of the physical agents; and 
 responsive to a disparity, automatically reducing the disparity by performing at least one selected from the group consisting of:
 transmitting a signal to at least one physical agent to change the physical state of the at least one physical agent to reduce the disparity; and 
 modifying at least one stored virtual representation of a physical agent to reduce the disparity. 
 
 
     
     
       23. The method of  claim 22 , wherein:
 modifying at least one stored virtual representation of a physical agent to reduce the disparity comprises:
 adjusting the state of the stored virtual representations based on received signals indicative of the physical state of the physical agents; and 
 adjusting the state of the stored virtual representations based on interactions among the virtual representations; and 
 
 transmitting a signal to at least one physical agent to change the physical state of the at least one physical agent to reduce the disparity comprises transmitting signals to cause the physical agents to change their physical state to comport with the state of the stored virtual representations. 
 
     
     
       24. The method of  claim 22 , wherein automatically reducing the disparity comprises:
 adjusting the state of the stored virtual representations based on interactions among the virtual representations; and 
 transmitting signals to cause the physical agents to change their physical state to comport with the state of the stored virtual representations. 
 
     
     
       25. The method of  claim 22 , wherein automatically reducing the disparity comprises:
 adjusting the state of the stored virtual representations based on received signals indicative of the physical state of the physical agents. 
 
     
     
       26. A computer program product for using mobile computing devices to control physical agents within a robotic system, the physical agents being configured for interaction with one another, the computer program product comprising:
 a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium; and 
 computer program code, encoded on the medium, configured to cause at least one processor at a host device to perform the steps of:
 receiving signals indicative of the physical state of the physical agents in a physical environment; 
 transmitting signals specifying physical actions to be taken by the physical agents in the physical environment; 
 storing virtual representations of the physical agents, the virtual representations of the physical agents being configured for interaction with one another; and 
 maintaining substantial parity between the physical states of the physical agents and the states of the corresponding stored virtual representations of the physical agents; 
 
 wherein the physical agents are further configured to perform physical actions in response to signals received from mobile computing devices acting as user-operated controllers; 
 and wherein the computer program code configured to maintain substantial parity between the physical states of the physical agents and the states of the corresponding stored virtual representations of the physical agents comprises computer program code configured to perform the steps of: 
 determining whether there is disparity between the physical states of the physical agents and the states of the corresponding stored virtual representations of the physical agents; and 
 responsive to a disparity, automatically reducing the disparity by performing at least one selected from the group consisting of:
 transmitting a signal to at least one physical agent to change the physical state of the at least one physical agent to reduce the disparity; and 
 modifying at least one stored virtual representation of a physical agent to reduce the disparity. 
 
 
     
     
       27. The computer program product of  claim 26 , wherein
 the computer program code configured to cause at least one processor to modify at least one stored virtual representation of a physical agent to reduce the disparity comprises computer program code configured to cause at least one processor to perform the steps of:
 adjusting the state of the stored virtual representations based on received signals indicative of the physical state of the physical agents; and 
 adjusting the state of the stored virtual representations based on interactions among the virtual representations; and 
 
 the computer program code configured to transmit a signal to at least one physical agent to change the physical state of the at least one physical agent to reduce the disparity comprises computer program code configured to transmit signals to cause the physical agents to change their physical state to comport with the state of the stored virtual representations. 
 
     
     
       28. The computer program product of  claim 26 , wherein the computer program code configured to cause at least one processor to automatically reduce the disparity comprises computer program code configured to cause at least one processor to perform the steps of:
 adjusting the state of the stored virtual representations based on interactions among the virtual representations; and 
 transmitting signals to cause the physical agents to change their physical state to comport with the state of the stored virtual representations. 
 
     
     
       29. The computer program product of  claim 26 , wherein the computer program code configured to cause at least one processor to automatically reduce the disparity comprises computer program code configured to cause at least one processor to perform the step of:
 adjusting the state of the stored virtual representations based on received signals indicative of the physical state of the physical agents.